Prior to the meeting student musicians from Rogers High School filled the Ballou JH stage in full concert attire and warmed-up for their performance. Under the direction of student teacher, Jacob Schuler, the RHS Wind Ensemble performed October, a piece by Eric Whitacre.

Once the meeting began, and after President Dane Looker led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance, band students performed another piece. Under the direction of their teacher, Stephen Pickard, students performed a Sousa march. The upbeat piece set a positive tone for the rest of the meeting.

Chief Communications and Arts Officer Brian Fox congratulated Director Kathy Yang and Maddie Names for results in the recent school board election. Names then addressed the board. She thanked Director Donovan for the work done over the years of service saying his shoes would be hard for her to fill.

Fox then showed a photo of the board of directors noting that after the meeting it would be filed in the archive. Since this was Director Pat Donovan’s final meeting, the remainder of District Highlights focused on thanking him.

Director Chris Ihrig shared memories of time spent with Pat Donovan over the years. “He comes to every table and every conversation with a heart for the students of this community and the hard work of this staff,” said Ihrig. “He has laid a path that we are all privileged to walk in.”

“It has been an honor and pleasure to serve with Pat Donovan,” shared Director Kathy Yang. “When I first came on the board It struck me every time Pat spoke how deeply he felt about all the issues, and how knowledgeable he was, and how prepared he came to the table all the time.”

“Pat is the definition of what a public servant should be,” said Director Michael Keaton. “That is, never about himself, always about kids and the district and what’s best for them.”

President Looker shared compliments of Director Donovan and his family. “There’s going to be a void here on the board that’s going to be difficult to fill,” said Looker. “I hope to count you as a life-long friend.”

Finally, Superintendent Yeomans noted that Donovan has always been relentless in asking for data. He was always asking the very hard questions, “How are we doing and how do we know we are doing well?” shared Yeomans. “We really need to have data that tells us we are making the difference we intend.”

Superintendent Yeomans then presented Director Donovan with a plaque commemorating the 9 years of service on the school board and thanked him for the opportunity to have worked together.

Action Taken – Educational Programs and Operations Replacement Levy

For school board consideration, Chief Financial Officer Corine Pennington then presented directors with a resolution authorizing a February 13, 2018 election to replace the Educational Programs and Operations Levy which expires December 31, 2018.

For the past four years Puyallup School district has had in effect an Educational Programs Levy to maintain K-12 programs, fund day-to-day operations in all neighborhood schools including classroom teachers, instructional aides, nurses, textbooks and learning materials, reasonable class sizes, support technology, arts, music and athletic programs, maintain school playgrounds/playfields, heating, plumbing, health, safety, fire-alarm, and security systems.

In the 2017 legislative session additional funding was promised to be paid by the State to school districts. Therefore, the amount of levy funding proposed for the next four years is reduced. However, the money forecasted to be paid into the General Fund of the District during the 2018-2019, 2019‑2020, 2020‑2021, 2021‑2022 and 2022‑2023 school years will be insufficient to enable the district to pay for all educational programs and daily operations to properly meet the educational needs of students attending Puyallup School District schools.

Therefore, the Educational Programs Replacement Levy is still critical to the continued service to our students and families.

Director of Facilities Planning Brian Devereux requested board consideration for approval of the purchase and sale agreement of Riverside Elementary.

On June 5, 2017, the board gave their authorization for the district to surplus Riverside Elementary school and to seek a buyer for the property. District staff has been collaborating with the Washington Premier Football Club on the sale of this property.

Devereux presented the board with a purchase and sale agreement which would facilitate the sale of this site.

Directors were presented with a second reading of one school board policy which has been revised due to legislative changes, suggestions by the Washington State School Directors Association (WSSDA), or to implement district efficiencies and effective use of available resources.

Policy 2400 - High School Graduation Requirements

Assistant Superintendent Casey Cox provided directors with an overview of the changes being recommended. Chief Academic Officer for Region III Brian Lowney also addressed the board providing background on the process followed in revising the expectations of the High School Culminating Project.

Key messages shared by Marcoe included:
- Prior year percentages of revenues and expenditures are based on the adopted budget.
- Enrollment was budgeted at 21,918 students for the 2017-18 school-year. Actual September and October enrollment (excluding Chief Leschi, Running Start and alternative programs) came in at 21,690 and 21,877, respectively.

“Puyallup School District provides equal opportunities in education and employment and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.
Students and staff are protected against sexual harassment by anyone in any school program or activity, including on the school campus, on the school bus, or off-campus, such as a school-sponsored field trip.
Questions or complaints of alleged discrimination or harassment may be directed to:
ADA/Human Resources Compliance Coordinator: Amie Brandmire ~ (253) 841-8666, brandmah@puyallup.k12.wa.us;
Chief Equity and Achievement Officer: Gerald Denman ~ (253) 840-8966, denmange@puyallup.k12.wa.us;
Title IX Coordinator, Jim Meyerhoff – (253) 841-8785, meyerhja@puyallup.k12.wa.us; or
Section 504 Coordinator, Gerald Denman ~ (253) 840-8966, denmange@puyallup.k12.wa.us.
All individuals may be reached at this address:
Puyallup School District
302 2nd Street SE
Puyallup, WA 98372”